School News
Superhero Charlotte 5th June 2023
Last week Charlotte received this extremely special award for the school value of Persistence.
Charlotte is to be congratulated for the way she tackles her tasks with a ‘can do’ attitude! She listens to instructions carefully and it has been SO good to see her ask questions more readily if she needs to. Our Superhero is a great team member and always gives her personal best to the group.
With her big smile and positive outlook, Studio 7’s Superhero
can be very proud of her efforts and achievements.
Congratulations to Charlotte Edwards!!!
Congratulations Charlotte, we hope you had a great week!
Classroom Awards
Congratulations to the following students for receiving classroom awards: Memphis, Evelyn, Mikayla, Eldie, Evie, Thomas, Aria, Alexis, Hugo, Ty, Aydan, Elias, Rosie, Fletcher.
Art Award
Congratulations Louise for receiving this week's Art Award.
Pyjama Day for WIRES- Wildlife Rescue
Year 5/6 News
MAPPEN: Gold Game
In our immersive 'Gold Game,' fifth and sixth-grade students stepped into the 1850s gold rush era as determined characters. Equipped with supplies like pans and cradles, they ventured into the world of gold mining, making decisions that impacted their virtual wealth. Some accumulated fortunes and established shops, while others faced challenges including receiving fines and going to ‘jail’.
Students navigated cautionary measures against bushrangers, daring outlaws, and learned critical skills like problem-solving and decision-making. The 'Gold Game' offered an engaging, hands-on approach, fostering teamwork and a deeper understanding of the gold rush challenges.
At the culmination of this exhilarating journey, the 'Gold Game' will crown its ultimate winners. From each gold field, Bendigo (Studio 11 and 12) and Ballarat (Studio 13 and 14), a winner will emerge. These students will have amassed the greatest wealth through their shrewd decisions and tactical prowess.
But the excitement doesn’t end there! As a reward for their dedication and hard work, all participants are embarking on a memorable visit to Sovereign Hill, a living museum that brings the gold rush era to life. Here, the students will have the opportunity to explore an authentic 1850s township, interact with costumed characters, witness traditional gold mining techniques, and immerse themselves in the rich history of the gold rush. This visit will not only reinforce the knowledge and experiences gained during the 'Gold Game' but also provide a tangible connection to the past, allowing students to witness firsthand the challenges and triumphs of those who sought their fortunes during the gold rush
Sports News
It’s been a busy Term 2 in PE, especially for our senior students. Teams competed in Soccer at Gisborne and in the Winter round of interschool sports at Romsey participating in AFL, Netball and Softball. Our mixed Netball team were successful and travel to Castlemaine next week to compete in the Division Championships. Good luck!
47 students from years 3 to 6 travelled to Hanging Rock to compete in Cross Country with three students advancing to Division level. A big congratulations to Daisy B from year 3 who went on to the Regional Championships in St Arnaud and finished in 21st place. Great work Daisy!
Students have developed their skills in Soccer, AFL and in years 3 to 6 we are currently navigating the weather to complete our athletic trials. Next term, on August 10th, our school team will head to Bendigo to compete against the top athletes in the district. Students in years 5 and 6 took part in a basketball clinic run by NBL side Melbourne United and students in years prep to 2 completed two AFL clinics as part of the AFL’s Primary Play program.
Our preps and remaining 5/6 classes also completed their swimming lessons at the Kyneton Aquatic Centre.
KPS Disco
Dear KPS Community, As you may have already guessed from the Song Request forms sent home last week, the Parents and Friends are hosting a Disco in the school GP room on Thursday 22nd June - next week! Decorations are being purchased, lights are being hired, and popcorn will be popped for a fun night of music, dancing, and games.
We have decided to split the night into two separate discos - an early dance for the Prep/1/2 students (4:30pm to 6:00pm) and after a quick clean up a later dance for the grade 3/4/5/6 students (6:30pm to 8:00pm).
Please see the attached poster for more information on the night.
Please note:-
Prep/1/2 Disco - children are required to have a supervising adult present for the duration of the disco. Parents cannot drop kids off for this event. Adults are very welcome to help out, watch the disco, join in with the dancing, or keep themselves warm outside by the fire pit and socialise with BYO nibbles and a drink.
- Grade 3/4/5/6 Disco - children can be dropped off and picked up at the front gate. Parents are also very welcome to stay to help out, watch the disco, join in with the dancing, or keep themselves warm outside by the fire pit and socialise with BYO nibbles and a drink. Parent volunteers will be at the gate at the end of the Disco and will be ensuring all students go home with their parents.
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at kpspnf@gmail.com Hope to see you all there!
Gardening and Sustainability
On Wednesday the 31st of May, Kyneton Primary School participated in a ResourceSmart School networking morning at Newham Primary School. Mrs Matthews took along with her Henrietta Mettler, Nell Brennan and Finnegan Lakey to share what sustainability initiatives our school does and hear what is happening at other ResourceSmart Schools in the Macedon Ranges.
We heard from schools in Gisborne, Riddles Creek, Newham and Kyneton. Some schools have a National Park philosophy which is, what waste you bring to school, you take home with you, therefore reducing and in some cases removing the need for rubbish bins in the school yard. Other schools have insect hotels and kitchen garden programs. It was a great way to celebrate the initiatives we are doing and learn from other schools.
Finnegan, Nell and Henrietta at Newham PS
On Friday the 26th of May, Mrs Matthews took the gardening and sustainability students on an excursion to Snipes Creek in Edgecombe. We were there from 11:30 until the end of the day, planting native indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses. I don’t know how many we planted, but it was….lots!
Along with Kara, from Biolinks Alliance and her team of ecologists, we continued the journey that Kyneton Primary students started last year when the previous gardening and sustainability group visited to begin the rehabilitation of the area.
Centuries ago, the land was lush and there would have been lots of animals that lived there. Today, there are not so many due to their habitat being lost. In the coming years, we hope that they return and along with them, the Snipe bird, the area for which it is named. It was a lot of fun, it didn’t rain and we got some tasty food from Cookie Crumb and Monsieur Pierre. Thanks Mrs Matthews for taking us.
Josie and Henrietta
Photos courtesy of Cameron O’Mara
More Canteen Helpers Still Required
We still require more volunteers on an ongoing basis on a Thursday and Friday to allow us to rotate our helpers so they are not assisting every week.
You will need to have a valid Working With Childrens Check and have done an OHS Induction at the office. This only takes five minutes and can be done when you sign in.
The work of our volunteers is greatly appreciated and without it our canteen cannot run effectively. Please contact the office if you are able to assist.
Current COVID-19 Advice
The latest COVID-19 Advice for schools. Below is a summary of the most important pieces of information.
COVIDSafe measures for schools
COVIDSafe measures have changed but all Victorian government schools are required to continue to implement important practices to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Schools must continue to take the important steps of ensuring air purifiers are in use, external ventilation is maximised, good personal hygiene is encouraged and face masks continue to be made available for staff, students and visitors who wish to wear them.
Rapid antigen testing
It is recommended that rapid antigen tests (RATs) are used by students and staff:
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19 infection, no matter how mild
- If you are a household or close contact of someone who has COVID-19
- If you are a social contact of someone who has COVID-19.
The Department of Health recommends that all Victorians should report their positive RAT result to the Department of Health online, or by calling 1800 675 398. Students (or their parents) should also report a positive result to their school, either through the COVID Test portal or by phone or written notification.
Face masks
Current advice from the Victorian government is available at Face masks.
Staff and students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.
The Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who is a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 when leaving home.
Additionally, the Department of Health recommends that masks should be worn by a person who has COVID-19 for at least 7 days after a positive test when they need to leave home.
Infection prevention and control
All staff, students and visitors to schools should practise good hand hygiene, particularly on arrival to school, before and after eating, after blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. Staff should direct or supervise young students where required.
Managing a confirmed case of COVID-19 in schools
The Department of Health recommends that a person who tests positive to COVID-19 report that result to their employer, school and household. Where a student or staff member is identified as a positive case, the following steps should be taken:
Identification and Notification
- Parents/carers should complete the Student COVID-19 COVID Test Portal if a student tests positive to COVID-19 (via a PCR or rapid antigen test). Where a parent/carer informs the school by phone or written notification.
- Students who report a positive result are recommended to isolate for a minimum of 5 days and not attend school until their symptoms have resolved. Students who isolate as a result of a positive COVID-19 test should be supported in the same way as students with an extended absence due to illness or injury, with learning materials provided to support their continued learning.
- There is no longer a requirement for principals to inform the school community of a positive case associated with the school.
School Gates and Opening Times
Just a few reminders and potentially new information for our new families. In the morning all gates will be open for access to the school site at 8:45 as this is when staff supervision in the yard commences. No students are allowed onsite until this time.
In the afternoon all gates will be open at 3:15 for access to the school site. Access to the office during the school day is via the pedestrian gate on Edgecombe St.
The new ramp/path between the school and the kindergarten is now operational. Access to the school grounds using the ramp is between the hours of 8:45 – 3:40. On either side of these hours, the bottom of the ramp will be chained off. Access outside of these hours needs to be arranged through the school office or a staff member by calling 5422 1855.A reminder to all members of the school community the staff car park is not to be used to walk between the school and the kindergarten for safety reasons. Now that the ramp/path is operational the pedestrian gate next to the car park gates should be used following the path, crossing the road in front of the boom gate using the marked pedestrian crossing and then down the ramp.
* Please do not access the school site at any time via the staff car park for safety
reasons.
* Please do not park in the kinder carpark unless it is your kinder day and you are a kinder family.
Parent Payments
Thank you to the families who have paid the $130 Parent Payment.
These funds are used for –
- Curriculum Contributions – items and activities that students use, or participate in, to access the Curriculum.
- Other Contributions – for non-curriculum items and activities such as memberships, subscriptions to programs and affiliations.
- Extra Curricular Items – the Kyneton Primary School Yearbook
If you would still like to pay for these please use one of the following methods -
- EFT - at the office or by phone
- Cash - at the office
- Direct Bank Transfer - BSB 063-000 Account No 14033609 - use your child’s name as the reference
- BPay - contact the school office for your personalised identification details
- Centrepay - use of this method is available to recipients of Centrelink payments
Please do not hesitate to contact the office for more information or for any other query you may have.
2023 Uniform
School uniforms are available for purchase online direct from A Plus Schoolwear www.aplusschoolwear.com.au
When ordering uniforms please put the studio number of your child for easier delivery.
Once uniforms arrive at school they will be sent home with your child.
Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) applications
The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, such as a Veterans Affairs Gold Card, Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. There is also a special consideration category for asylum seeker and refugee families.
Payment amounts this year are $125 for eligible primary school students. Payments are made direct to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions and sporting activities for the benefit of your child.
If you have previously applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
If you would like to apply for the first time, please complete the attached form or call the office to request a form.
Please return completed forms to the school office as soon as possible. A copy of the form is attached below.
We will require a copy of your valid health care card with the application.
Contact Details
There are times when we will need to contact you during a school day. It is important we have your most up to date contact details on file.
Please update these on Compass or email the school at kyneton.ps@education.vic.gov.au so we can update our records. Please include parent/carers’ name, address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact details.
Student Attendance
If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of absence, by logging your child’s absence using our school’s Parental Portal in Compass.
Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.
Victorian government schools are required to contact parents/carers as soon as practicable on the same day of an unexplained student absence. If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained. It is a DET requirement that we have a reason for each child's absence.
This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.
The Kyneton Primary School Attendance Policy which outlines the school’s processes and procedures for monitoring, recording and following-up of student absences is available on our website www.kynetonprimaryschool.com.au
Students Arriving Late
Students arriving late to school should come to the office, accompanied by an adult, and sign in either on the Compass Kiosk or in the late book. They will then be issued a late pass to take to class and their arrival at school will be updated on the roll. This will avoid parents/guardians receiving notification that their child is not at school when they have arrived late.
Accessing Compass
Compass is our main way of communicating with our families. It is important that parents access the Parental Portal in Compass at https://kynetonps.vic.jdlf.com.au
Using our parent portal will enable you to –
- View up-to-date class and school attendance information
- Approve or enter upcoming or past absences for your son/daughter
- Update your registered email and mobile number (used for SMS alters)
- Access information regarding upcoming events and news
- Access your child’s Semester Reports
- Book your Parent/Student/Teacher conferences
We encourage families to download the Compass App and to enable notification to ensure you receive all communications.
Please click on the “Welcome to Compass” booklets for further assistance or contact the office.